Welcome 2 my place 2 gush & fangirl over all things movies, shows & books that grabs my interest. Enjoying a variety of genres, my favorites are sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal/supernatural, horror, suspense & dystopian...w/ a touch of mystery, romance & comedy. I share this passion w/ my daughter, so this blog of ours is our place 2 share our thoughts on movies, shows & books we watch & read, including our fan experiences at various events...& having fun while we do it!

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Olympian Challenger by Astrid Arditi

Genre:

Young Adult

Urban Fantasy/Romance

Mythology

Publish Date:

July 3, 2018

Synopsis:

A hero’s tournament. A defiant contender. Does one girl have the courage to take on Mount Olympus?

Hope’s world doesn’t have room for heroes. She barely has time for schoolwork, swim team, and taking care of her ailing mother. But when she’s invited to a mysterious tournament, the all-powerful hosts won’t take no for an answer.

Transported to Mount Olympus, Hope comes face to face with her new trainers—the pantheon of Greek gods. While other contenders train hard to gain a fighting edge, Hope searches for a way out. Instead, she finds a gorgeous shadow god who may just convince her to stay…

As each round unfolds, the ultimate prize draws closer—the granting of her heart’s deepest desire. If she survives the final challenge, her mother’s cure would be within reach…but only if Hope can ignore the tournament’s dark purpose.

Olympian Challenger is the first book in a bold YA urban fantasy trilogy. If you like Greek mythology, forbidden romance, and feats of courage, then you’ll love Astrid Arditi’s heroic coming-of-age tale.

Astrid Arditi has studied at Hogwarts, ridden a dragon, swam with mermaids and flown to the moon. Recently, she traveled to Mount Olympus…

She leads a double life: one of words and whimsy; the other one chasing her two young kids around the playground and kissing away booboos.

She’s a spy, a princess, a unicorn, a wife, a mother and an author. Life is never dull in her messy home in Brooklyn, or in her dreams where she escapes as often as she can.

She writes from experience, of course. You may not believe it, but everything in her books has actually happened to her…even if only in her imagination.

Stay connected with Astrid Arditi

~~~~~

*My Thoughts*

Too many adjectives, you’re not to the point, and it’s distracting. I don’t mind the way you write, it’s like you’re weaving an eloquent piece of embroidery, but the topic is too standard and doesn’t bring anything new to the table.

“Mean Girls” high school, why don’t these brats look at the bigger picture?

Protagonist syndrome: too perfect (potential valedictorian, possibly the best on the swim team, senior, future surgeon?), the only down side is she’s a “nerd;” protagonist stereotype: one or both parents of the protagonist must either be dead or missing. Note: one parent in missing and the other has dementia.

Chapter 5: Olympus

Chapter 6: Is dis Percy Jackson with the Hunger Games?

Chp. 8: Not bad; the characters are still 2D.

Chp. 26: by now the story and the writing prove delicate and interesting. “He listens to the Hesperid in the yellow dress and takes the red apple, like us. If the clever boy has come to the same conclusion as me, it makes me feel more confident about my choice. Astrid Arditi. Olympian Challenger (Kindle Locations 2816-2818). Kindle Edition.”

Astrid Arditi writes in a beautiful style and captivates the reader by encompassing them in a world of mysticism and other worldly beings. Olympian Challenger takes its reader on an adventure to Mount Olympus through the mind of one teenage girl named Hope Diaz. The main protagonist is selfless, mature, and empathetic. She is a teenage girl taking care of her ailing mother and an unwilling challenger in the gods dance, a dance in the guise of a competition. There are ups and downs to her personality such as her high independence and pacifist-like nature but be she makes up for is with her self-lessness and loving heart. Because of her desire to help others, Hope makes new friends and unlikely allies in the form of Gabriel and Amy, two teenagers from very different backgrounds, and Kieron the son of Hades and Persephone. But others in the competition with selfish or hateful intentions bare their worst traits first and make friends with others never. The stress is overwhelming, but Hope is intelligent, and she figures out the challenges in stride.

“He listens to the Hesperid in the yellow dress and takes the red apple, like us. If the clever boy has come to the same conclusion as me, it makes me feel more confident about my choice.” Astrid Arditi. Olympian Challenger (Kindle Locations 2816-2818). Kindle Edition.

She’s certainly not a genius but she knows how to survive and reassure herself. Like any heroine she deals with each challenge presented to her. She fairs to be the most thought out character in the book.

The focus of Olympian Challenger shifts throughout the book. At first, I found it fun, bright, and filled with contenders of courage or vileness. A good distraction for the dangers hidden on Olympus. The antagonists Hope must face are those that compete in the gods’ challenges and quests with her. A boy named Heath and another girl named Jessica particularly show their violent sides and will stop at nothing to win, even sacrificing the lives of others. Contenders from all around New York were chosen and chose to participate in the Olympian gods competition but later, the story draws a hard line to make obvious light and dark comparisons. Some teenagers were having the time of their lives living in luxury just to be raised as pigs to the slaughter. The contenders are no longer the source of Hope’s disdain. The gods have put on nothing but a show.

The line between good and bad shows itself further when Hope sees the gods as they really are; cold statues, selfish beings that deserve to be trapped on Olympus, a place where humans do not worship them. The gods themselves do not pose as a direct threat to Hope but to their ever-growing influence over the contenders dwindles the competitor’s spirit and morality. They lack the love and morality of humans, but the gods want to rule over humanity. It’s all written with elegant detail and interwoven into a story of faith and love.

Olympian Challenger is the first book of a could be series. It had action, grief, and romance. Although I enjoyed the trip that Astrid Arditi took me on, I wish it had something more. It was good to say the least and not something to pass up if you want something to read next weekend.

Contributors

Follow us

Follow via Email

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
WHAT THE F#@$ JUST HAPPENED!!??!! Oops.... Pardon my language. But, seriously, just like the first book in this series, I was completely blown away at what happened. Then there's that freakin' clif...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
And.... This historical fantasy adventure continues... Gah!!! This second installment dives into the rich historical and mythological world that Sherrilyn keeps creating. I am new to all this, but ...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Again, Mary Ting has wowed me with another of her fictional worlds. This time, this science fiction/dystopian novel is filled with action and adventure with a lot of teenage girl angst. Of course, ...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
I am still reeling after reading this!!! I am still thinking about these characters after I have finished reading. Blood Type is an intense read filled with political and government intrigue, with ...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
A first for me to read a book written by Jennifer Bernard. Too Hot To Handle is the eighth book in the Jupiter Point series. I found this read to be a funny, dramatic, and creative story. Although ...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
What the heck, Stacey!?! Every time I read your books, especially the ones that take a twist on fairy tales, I am just mind blown with all the intricacies and twisty storylines. This is yet another...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
After taking a long break from the first book, The Way of Shadows, I found it difficult to get back into the swing of the story, but Shadow’s Edge did not disappoint me. The story expanded the worl...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
The Final Six was an interesting read for being the first book I have read by this author. It was action-packed, intriguing, and a bit of romance. I don't read very many science fiction novels, but...

Actual rating 3 1/2 stars
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Ummm...Hmmm... I liked this story, but I didn't love it. I do enjoy a good second chance story. This is one that I thought was cute. I wasn't overly enraptured with the c...

Note: This review contains NO spoilers
I loved this story. Broken Beautiful Hearts is a poignant and riveting story of heartbreak, betrayal, and second chances. Secrets has a way of coming out and hurting people. This story also tackles...

Contact us

Name

Email
*

Message
*

Page Views

Disclaimer

All books, movies and shows reviewed are entirely the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of the reviewers. All books reviewed on this blog are either bought, borrowed, won from contests/giveaways, or sent by publishers or authors for the purpose of review. All review copies/ARCs (advance readers copies) are given by the publisher/author/a third party in exchange for honest and thoughtful reviews. No monetary compensation of any kind is given or received for any and all of our reviews.